1998-2004 - Accession at last!
In October 1998, the Prince’s Government initiated a new membership procedure.
Monaco’s flag is raised on the forecourt of the Council of Europe on the occasion of its accession.
In October 1998, the Prince’s Government initiated a new membership procedure. In July 1999, Prince Rainier III himself addressed the National Council (Assembly of elected representatives), which had been a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since 1948. In a message addressed to the elected representatives on June 25, 2001, he stated that "if the Principality did not join this organization, it would remain the only country outside the commitments that today unite European nations in the field of human rights".
Commenting on the Council of Europe’s goals, he added that they "already correspond to the spirit of our Constitution. These objectives are human rights, the essential principles of democracy and world peace. They are the foundation of our culture and our political action". In short, the Sovereign affirmed his "conviction that it is in the best interests of our country to join the Council of Europe".
Bilateral relations between Monaco and France were updated by the treaty of October 24, 2002, "intended to adapt and confirm friendly and cooperative relations". By increasing Monegasque sovereignty, this agreement paved the way for Monaco’s entry into the Council of Europe, which came into effect two years later. It was finalised with the signing of a new administrative cooperation agreement in 2005, which would give Monegasques access to all public functions.
Letter from Mr Patrick Leclercq, Minister of State of the Principality of Monaco to Ambassador Torbjørn Frøysnes, Chair of the Minister’s Deputies.
The signatories of the instrument of accession on October 5, 2004 were, for Monaco, Hereditary Prince Albert (future Sovereign Prince Albert II), and, for the Council of Europe, Secretary General Terry Davis.
On the same day, Prince Rainier III declared:
There is no doubt that, after May 28, 1993, the date of our admission to the UN, October 5, 2004 will also be a memorable milestone in our already long history.
